GINOOGAMING FIRST NATION — Federal funding will help Ginoogaming First Nation plan for a mill in their community.
The First Nation's chief and council on Thursday announced they had received $300,000 from the federal government to study the construction of a large, engineered-wood-product mill.
"This project will benefit all area communities, existing industry players and government ministries and will rebuild, promote and stabilize the forest-based economy in the region for generations to come," stated a news release announcing the funding.
The statement said the study will examine the project's alignment with Ontario's Forest Sector Strategy, specifically with producing an increased harvest through an underutilized low-quality hardwood supply.
The facility would be an oriented strand board or laminated strand lumber mill, which would use about 600,000 cubic metres of poplar, aspen and birch wood from the Kenogami and surrounding forests.
“This feasibility study will be used to entice investors both in Canada and internationally to partner with GFN to make this project a reality.” Ginoogaming Chief Sheri Taylor said in a statement.
“This is an exciting time for Ginoogaming First Nation as we have a deep-seated desire to build a forest-based economy to benefit, not only our community, but other area Indigenous communities and the municipality of Greenstone. Longlac Wood Industries closed its plywood plant more than a decade ago. Since then, hardwood in the region has gone un-utilized. This project will use this fibre to provide a huge economic benefit to the region."
Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu said for generations, Indigenous communities have been left out of opportunities to participate in the economy.
"This feasibility study to create a plant in Ginoogaming is an important step towards equal opportunity for the community to benefit from the forestry sector that operates all around them. I look forward to hearing about the results,” Hajdu said in a statement.
The feasibility study is expected to be completed this summer.
The eventual construction of the plant is expected to take three years and cost more than $400 million, creating hundreds of construction jobs. Once operational, the facility is expected to employ more than 100 people and create about 300 indirect jobs.
